Persian Treasury
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Coinage of Naser al-Din / late Qajar

1 catalogued issue of Naser al-Din / late Qajar — metal, weight, mint, obverse and reverse descriptions with references.

In short

The late issues of Naser al-Din Shah (1848–1896) are the first fully machine-struck Iranian coinage, produced on European presses at Tehran in the last decades of a forty-eight-year reign. Naser al-Din / late Qajar issued 1 catalogued coin type dated 1890 CE – 1923 CE, recorded here with metal, weight, mint, obverse and reverse descriptions. The surviving issues in this catalogue are struck in Paper money at Imperial Bank of Persia – Yazd branch.

Catalogued
1
Eras
1
Metals
1
Denominations
2

Key facts

Key facts about Naser al-Din / late Qajar in the Persian Treasury catalogue
Catalogued pieces1
Date range1890 CE – 1923 CE
Eras representedQajar Dynasty
MetalsPaper money
DenominationsToman, Rial
MintsImperial Bank of Persia – Yazd branch
Reign1848–1896
Mint technologyEuropean steam presses from the 1870s
Reverse typeLion and sun
Political eventTobacco protest, 1891

Mechanising the mint

European steam presses installed at Tehran in the 1870s replaced hammer striking, producing round flans, milled edges and consistent weights for the first time in Iranian history.

The lion-and-sun reverse and the shah's profile become standardised, and provincial hammered minting is progressively shut down in favour of centralised production.

A reign that shaped modern Iran

Naser al-Din's reign brought the telegraph, the first modern schools, photography — he was an enthusiastic photographer himself — and the concession politics that provoked the 1891 tobacco protest, the first mass political mobilisation in Iranian history.

He was assassinated in 1896. His krans and 2-kran pieces are common and cheap; gold tomans and high-grade machine-struck silver are the collecting targets.

Qajar Dynasty · 1789 – 1925 CE

Era overview →

Imperial Bank One Toman — Yazd branch overprint

Naser al-Din / late Qajar

c. 1890–1923

A surviving example illustrating the branch-bound nature of early Iranian paper money.

Frequently asked about Naser al-Din / late Qajar

When did Iran start machine-striking coins?
In the 1870s, when European steam presses were installed at the Tehran mint during Naser al-Din Shah's reign, replacing hammered production.
How do I tell machine-struck from hammered Qajar coins?
Machine-struck coins are perfectly round with milled or plain consistent edges and even weights; hammered issues are irregular in shape and thickness.
What coins did Naser al-Din / late Qajar issue?
Naser al-Din / late Qajar issued 1 catalogued coin type dated 1890 CE – 1923 CE, recorded here with metal, weight, mint, obverse and reverse descriptions. The surviving issues in this catalogue are struck in Paper money at Imperial Bank of Persia – Yazd branch.
How many Naser al-Din / late Qajar pieces are catalogued on Persian Treasury?
1 item, dated 1890 CE – 1923 CE, spread across 1 era: Qajar Dynasty.
Which metals were used for Naser al-Din / late Qajar coinage?
Paper money. Each entry records the metal, the approximate weight where known, and a cited reference.
Which denominations are associated with Naser al-Din / late Qajar?
Toman, Rial. Every denomination has its own reference page with dated examples.
Where were Naser al-Din / late Qajar coins minted?
Recorded mints include Imperial Bank of Persia – Yazd branch.

Explore related hubs

Denominations here

Metals here